Yes, there is a movie about a bear pumped with cocaine. No, it’s not just a comedy, it’s also a survival horror flick.
Cocaine Bear is a 2023 release directed by Elizabeth Banks. It tells the story of a 500-pound black bear that got its hands on so many drugs that it hunts down and mauls unsuspecting victims while it’s high. Apparently, this is also based on a true story.
While this premise seems like it would not be taken seriously, Banks is very aware of that. She admitted that she made the film “knowing that it should be seen with a bunch of friends in an hour and a half at 7:15 and then you should go have beers afterward.” The film’s story is sort of camp in a way that no one really does this kind of concept. Also, it’s weird.
Is there a hint of truth in this movie? Well, there are some. First, its basis in real-life events is true. In 1985, ex-narcotics officer Andrew Thornton brought cocaine from Colombia into the USA. When there were police officers on his trail, the man actually ditched duffel bags of coke and ran away. He actually died, but officers never agreed on the reason why he died.
Second, unlike the movie counterpart, the real bear actually did get high, but it never killed anybody. It died of overdose and was found surrounded by 40 open containers of cocaine.
Image credit: Universal Pictures